Menu

Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog
Directory
Contests
Magazine
FAQ

Write your story in the form of a script, complete with stage directions.

Posted in Narrative on Jun 28, 2024

Submissions are closed

Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy account.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or use an email address:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 33 stories

Family Affair

Submitted to Contest #257

Act 1 (A grassy field on the summit of Mount Etna in Anatolia. Enter Zeus and Hera, stage left) Zeus: Such a magnificent outing this has been! A more quiet afternoon I’m sure I’ve not had. (He reaches for Hera’s hand and kisses it) You are a formidable wife, after all, my queen. Of all my sisters I might have married, I’m certainly glad I seduced you. Hera (pulling her hand away abruptly): I’m glad you are pacified, husband. (Aside): Proving you are more like a babe than one could have imagined. Zeus: I must admit, I had doubts to your ...

10 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

A Levels

Submitted to Contest #257

LOUNGE - MORNING JARED (17) gangly and casual with a permanent smirk saunters into the room to see the five anxious faces of his friends staring up at him from around the room. JARED'Sup? MOLLY (17) is sitting on a bar stool, feet clenched on the bottom rung. ALI (17) is sitting in a chair with their legs hanging over the side. ALEC (18) is leaning on the mantel, with a hand in his pocket. And ROSS (17) is sitting in the middle of the floor, legs crossed, as if he's been meditating. Jared looks at the faces staring at him disconcerted. JA...

10 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Society Snakes

Submitted to Contest #257

Society Snakes: A DramaThe cast of CharactersNarrator: The Narrator. Super smart, intelligent, and a genius. Georges: Just another kid who caves into all social norms and is a part of society. Secretly loves potato knishes. Mr. Society (“Steve”): A 73-year-old man who is infiltrating the school to make sure that the #wearing_a_ponytail_and_bullying_anyone_who_doesn’t_challange trend he created is working, which he uses to mind control society and take over the world.Zoey: A girl who is uncomfortable with her friend's nagging t...

8 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

The Art Gallery

Submitted to Contest #257

The Art GalleryMary ManningLeonard: An icon. An artist. A poet. Searching for lost art.Chapman: An icon. An artist. A poet. Searching for lost art.Setting: An art galleryThe Time: AlwaysThree white walls. Track lighting on all sides. Leonard sits in the middle of the stage in black. The walls are bare. He sits cross-legged, with his hands resting on his chin. Skinny, with sleek white skin, and leather pants. LEONARDSomebody has stolen my art.(He stares at the audience and sighs.) LEONARDIt’s an odd thing reall...

7 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

death is

Submitted to Contest #257

FADE IN: INT. FUNERAL HOME - DAY WIDE SHOT of the outside of a funeral home, slowly tracking through a window into the main room, a small and square room, off-white walls with charcoal carpets. CLOSE UP of an open coffin, sleek mahogany. A picture of a woman with the words 1971—. Glass tables, draped in white cloth. Several bouquets, all with plum colored ribbons with golden letters that read: DEMETER FLORALS. The funny thing about death that people tend to forget is that it happens all the time. Small deaths occur every single day, everywhe...

7 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

From the Top

Submitted to Contest #257

(There is a table center stage and a door up stage right. WOMAN 1, WOMAN 2, AND MAN 1 are seated at this table, frozen like statues. There is the sound of someone struggling with the door handle before THE NARRATOR enters.) THE NARRATORSorry for coming late, hope I didn’t keep you waiting.  (There is no response from any of the people at the table. THE NARRATOR turns towards the audience.) Right, uhm. I guess I should introduce myself, I am The Narrator. If you are reading this you already know that, if you are an audience member you di...

7 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

The Year Christmas Died

Submitted to Contest #257

The Year Christmas Died Scene One (Lights up) (As scene opens, Ron is sitting at his desk, tie undone, collar open, coat thrown across the back of his chair. He is working busily at his computer, and it is apparent he is very frustrated with his progress, or rather, lack thereof. There are stacks of manuals & reports on the desk, along with the refuse of a fast-food meal and a coffee mug. He sits back and groans in angry frustration, and reaches to hit intercom button on the phone.) Ron: Sharon, please come here. Sharon: (offst...

7 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

Party Girl - Inspired by Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night"

Submitted to Contest #257

CHARACTER NOTE: When Violet/Vincent speak, they are voicing Vi’s inner thoughts. Vi should be the only one reacting to anything they say. Scene 1 (Spotlight up: Vi, alone down center, holding a backpack and facing forward as if looking in a mirror)Vi: …Violet: (offstage) Damn. I’ve certainly looked better. No makeup, no earrings… What are they going to think of me if I show up like this? (Vi turns to the side and makes a muscle, slightly smiling)Vincent: (offstage) You gotta admit the T is working wonders, though. These biceps almost ma...

7 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

No Vacancy

Submitted to Contest #257

No VacancyCharacter List:IRIS GILCHRIST: A thin, middle-aged woman with wavy brown hair and a habit of gesturing with her hands when she speaks.THE NURSETHE MANFADE IN:A small motel room is dimly illuminated by a full moon visible outside the window. A woman in her 40s is sitting on the side of the bed, talking on her cell phone and nervously tapping her fingers on the bed table. IRIS(glancing nervously at the wall farthest from her)This is Iris Gilchrist in Room 4B. I can hear loud knocking noises through the wall and it’s keeping me awake....

7 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

The End in One Act

Submitted to Contest #257

Act One One lane cobblestone street running north and south, this night about 2:00 A.M. A sidewalk and store fronts on one side of the street providing dim light onto the street, two-story red brick wall without windows and with locked windowless doors to access the rear of shops on the other side of the street. MAKEDA, late teens to early twenties female, wearing chucks, a grayish hoody and blue jeans, is sprawled supine on the road feet toward the sidewalk, unconscious.           &n...

7 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

The Tragedy of Alcyone and Ceyx

Submitted to Contest #257

(Act 1)(scene 1)Alcyone at loom in chamber in ThessalyEnter CeyxCeyxAlcyone! AlcyoneHere, my lord.CeyxMy love, I have come to bid thee farewell, for on the morrow I shall depart upon a quest to seek absolution of the burdens which plague me so. AlcyonePrithee tell what form this absolution takes.Ceyx Tis the oracle across the sea to whom I must journey. For there I shall vouchsafe the resolution to my tribulations.                   ...

7 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

A Midsummer Night's Delusion

Submitted to Contest #257

Gretchen, student, understudy for Hermia, no second job other than to look pretty, – known to friends as ‘The Fair’ GretchenHeath, student, understudy for Random Cast Member, plays Bottom the weaver but only when he has the ass’s head, stagehand – secretly in love with Gretchen, even though everybody knows itWolfgang, a wanderlust actor from Munich, understudy for Lysander, swordplay choreographerAisha, student, understudy for Helena, special assistant to set designer - bitchHal, student, understudy for Oberon, stagehandBrittany, local waitr...

7 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

The Siren's Rose

Submitted to Contest #257

ACT IFADE IN:EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA - SHIPS DECK - DAYESTABLISHING SHOTSEAMUS (Captain) early 30s, steers the ship from the helm. The ships crew douses the sheets as they come up on the wind.  SEAMUSAll hands on deck. SHIPS CREWAye Sir! SEAMUSOliver, pass the watch to Winston and meet me in my cabin.WINSTON early 20s, relieves OLIVER 26, of the watch.Oliver walks to the Captains Cabin. INT. CAPTAINS CABIN - DAYOliver walks in and Seamus motions for him to sit.  SEAMUSWe need to find a safe port to refit the ship and give our crew a day...

7 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

The Shakespeare Channel

Submitted to Contest #257

The Shakespeare Channel       CharactersBeatrice : known as Bee, a feisty individual who spends all her time arguing with BennyBenedict : known as Benny, who thinks he is better than Bee and doesn’t need her on the                 showClaudio : known as Claude, the anchorman of the show, a rather narcissistic man who always             appears a little bored.Iago: the v...

6 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Some.body

Submitted to Contest #257

ALEXIS, 20-SOMETHING, IS SITTING IN A MEDICAL BED. HER HAIR IS WET AND SHE HAS A TOWEL AROUND HER SHOULDERS. THE WHITE BEDDING SHINES BRIGHT IN THE OTHERWISE QUITE DARK ROOM. A RADIO PLAYS CLASSICAL MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND. ALEXIS: Once, I had a body. It was a fairly ordinary body with all the parts that usually belong. You know, head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. The whole kit and caboodle. I didn't particularly like or dislike it. It just was there, doing what it was supposed to. Taking me where I wanted to go. It's not that ...

6 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story named after, and inspired by, one of Shakespeare's plays. Think modern retellings, metanarratives, subversions, etc.

Narrative – 70 stories

Write a story in which a case of mistaken identity plays a pivotal role.

Funny – 22 stories

Write a story about a tragic hero.

Dramatic – 56 stories

Set your story during rehearsals for a production of a Shakespeare play.

High School – 29 stories

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

How to Write a Novel